After Killer Tornadoes Republicans Want To Cut FEMA and NOAA
One of the qualities of Americans in the past was the ability to come together during times of distress or crisis to help those least able to care for themselves, and it was especially true during natural disasters. Americans have always been generous and willing to sacrifice to aid those in need as the country witnessed after earthquakes, floods, and destructive forest fires. The assistance from volunteer groups and relief organizations was in addition to government aid that was offered after a governor or president declared a state of emergency that is necessary to trigger government assistance for rebuilding and disaster relief to the affected areas.
During George W. Bush’s presidency, the response to Hurricane Katrina was a portent of a new standard that Republicans in the 112th Congress are continuing with spending cuts to programs that assist the poor and serve the general population. Republicans have proposed cuts to FEMA, severe weather warning systems, earthquake and tsunami monitoring programs, and myriad other public safety programs established to protect every region of the United States. After a tornado that leveled most of Joplin, Missouri killed 124 (at last count) in the deadliest storm since records have been kept, Republican majority leader Eric Cantor said, “If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental.” Cantor’s statement means any emergency funding Congress approves is tied to spending cuts equal to the cost of the disaster relief.
President Obama issued a statement pledging a full federal response for the devastated area and added “We are here for you, we’re going to stay by you.” The president also pledged to sustain recovery efforts “after the news cameras leave.” However, the House must first approve funding for the recovery efforts, and as they have shown since the 112th Congress has been in session, they are not above holding any efforts hostage to achieve cuts to programs that benefit all Americans. In recent weeks, Republicans have expressed their willingness to crash the economy by refusing to raise the debt ceiling unless more Draconian spending cuts are made to Medicare and important safety nets.
Earlier this year, Republicans proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is a federal agency that focuses on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere as well as administering the National Hurricane Center. NOAA also provides weather forecasting programs that touch the lives of every American with predictions based on weather information gleaned from satellite data and various information gathering systems. Except for coastal regions that benefit from hurricane predictions provided by the weather service and NOAA, the region in and around Joplin benefits most from early tornado warnings.
Earlier this month, tornado forecasting saved countless lives in Alabama after an April 27th tornado demolished Tuscaloosa. The band of tornadoes that ravaged the South killed an estimated 328 people across seven states with damages estimated in the billions. The death toll would have been much higher if not for satellite-assisted early warnings that allowed many people to seek shelter 20 minutes before the tornadoes began touching down. The entire Republican Congressional delegation from Alabama voted unanimously against maintaining forecasting quality as part of the GOP’s spending cuts earlier in the year.
One has to wonder what the residents of Joplin are thinking about their Republican congressional legislators who voted to defund NOAA, and whether or not they will support Cantor’s declaration that any recovery is tied to spending cuts in other areas such as the National Weather Service and FEMA. The damage estimates for Joplin are expected to be about $3 billion which is just under the amount Republicans are giving the oil industry in subsidies this year. Earlier this month, Republicans voted to continue subsidies and blocked efforts to force the industry to pay royalties on oil drilling leases. The five largest oil companies posted record profits in the first quarter of this year and Republicans rejected proposed tax increases on the industry that pays nothing in taxes on their profits.
Republicans demonstrate every day that they have contempt for the American people and Cantor’s attitude typifies GOP favoritism for the oil industry at the expense of the people affected by devastating natural disasters. At some point, Americans must acknowledge that the Republicans are leaving people to fend for themselves in every aspect of their lives and they are just getting started.
Americans do not get the opportunity to designate where their tax dollars go or how they are spent, but as the economy struggles and crucial services are being slashed, it is a safe assumption that giving tax dollars to the oil industry and corporations is not their first choice. In fact, polls show that Americans do not want services cut so the wealthy and corporations can continue getting tax breaks. Two days ago, Paul Ryan said that Americans wanted Republicans to privatize Medicare and cut Social Security when in truth, 80% of Americans reject the voucher scam.
It is sad that Republicans are going to tie recovery for the victims to spending cuts, because if the GOP has its way, NOAA, FEMA, and other agencies will be eliminated. It is part of Republican ideology that mirrors libertarian belief that people are on their own and government exists to fund the military and give taxpayer dollars to corporations. Apparently, Republicans would privatize the weather service if they could get away with it so corporations can charge to provide early warnings during severe weather, and if a region doesn’t pay, they will not be warned in advance of impending tornadoes or hurricanes.
It is prescient that Republicans deny global climate change is occurring because climate scientists predicted that weather events like the Joplin tornado will be more extreme, and that the country will suffer more devastation making prediction more crucial than ever. Eric Cantor is not the only Republican who supports more spending cuts to pay for rebuilding efforts in Joplin, and it will not be surprising if the Republicans from Missouri also support holding recovery assistance hostage.
Americans have already begun donating privately to assist the victims in Missouri and it speaks to the generosity of the American people. Meanwhile, the GOP blocked Democrats from repealing corporate entitlements that would go a long way toward funding recovery and rebuilding efforts in tornado-ravaged areas like Joplin and Tuscaloosa. Republicans in Congress are extremely generous as long as they can take taxpayer’s dollars to give to the oil industry in the form of subsidies and tax breaks. However, when it comes to assisting victims of natural disasters, Republicans are willing to let people suffer in order to repay their corporate donors. Americans have given enough to the oil industry and corporations, and it is time that taxpayer dollars are used to assist people who need it most.
Republicans will never understand that government exists to protect and care for its citizens whether they suffer from natural disasters or lose their jobs to corporate outsourcing. America has entered a new era where citizens exist to support rich industrialists, and Republicans exist to finish off victims of natural disasters.
Unfortunately, ignorant Republican voters in Missouri will re-elect representatives who will defund the agencies that may save them from the next tornado, and when they are left homeless they will blame Democrats for not making drastic spending cuts. It is a vicious cycle that will leave generous Americans destitute and industrialists in charge of the government which is exactly what Republicans have planned for decades.
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By Blogsdna
Posted by Rmuse
on May 25th, 2011. Filed under Eric Cantor,Featured News,rmuse.
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Sarah Jones
May 25th, 2011 at 11:32 am
Republicans are trying to dismantle the federal government in the name of “small govt”, but the federal govt is there to protect the people. The fact that they mismanage programs like FEMA in order to justify killing them is due to their own willful incompetence and is not a reflection of the programs themselves. It’s shameful, really, that anyone listens to this tripe. It’s not as if we are discussing the multi-million dollar homes built on a cliff prone to mudslides just because the view is great. These folks had no way of preparing for a tornado of this size. I love how the GOP claims they own the heartland when they are the first to stab the heartland in the back when troulbe comes knocking.
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Shiva
May 25th, 2011 at 11:37 am
My opinion is it has nothing to do with small government except to allow wealth to hijack the government. A weakened government is one that is easily blackmailed by wealth for influence and destructive reigns
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AndrewsAFB
May 25th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
What the Republicans are doing is shameless. And they call themselves the Christian values party. They even refused to release aid to Joplin, MO tornado victims until they can get some more spending cuts for medicare, education and public services. Lets face it, unless you are filthy rich or a corporate baron, the republicans are not going to do squat for you. They want to hand over the entire country to their corporate masters.
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
Right – Jesus wants to kill all of us … that’s GOP Christian values. They certainly act all Christian don’t they?
Where in the Bible does it state to kill seniors because they cost too much?
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Reynardine
May 25th, 2011 at 11:52 am
A medical term no longer in use is hyperbulia. It meant a morbid addiction to one’s own will at the cost of every other consideration. It is still the most accurate diagnosis for today’s Republicans and their great patrons. There is also the term, “universal malice” (used, at law, to make a finding of murder when someone willfully barrels through a crosswalk and leaves a trail of the dead and the maimed behind).
Those with Republican Congressmen in their districts need to let them know this is not acceptable. It is not acceptable because it could be their own district next, and it is not acceptable in November of 2012. Notify them personally, and start or join a petition drive. Raise Hell with the presstitutes and demand they cover this. Then, let them know you’re watching.
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Sarah Jones
May 25th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Did you get my reply to you re the logorrhea alert comment? Not aimed at you – I knew you would know what it means and it’s aptly applied to SP.
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Reynardine
May 25th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Why, yes, I did, and replied with a query on manic-depressive psychosis.
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Pls don’t forget she is also a raving narcissist and paranoid. The woman is an entire DSMIV all rolled up into a nasty package.
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Reynardine
May 25th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
That’s what makes a diagnosis so troubling. She fits damn near everything, and you’re not supposed to be able to have all that stuff at once.
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Gaelic Gal
May 25th, 2011 at 11:52 am
I’m a Democrat/Liberal but am getting increasingly pissed off at your site and a few others for twisting Republicants words. Then others run off and start Sharing and Retweeting and people believe it. At least this time you said, “One has to wonder if…” and pasted Ryan’s words, as opposed to yesterday when some site explicitly said that Ryan would block funding. He didn’t say that. What the hell is wrong with trying to make sure that we don’t go further in debt? The way you’ve worded things, it looks like Ryan said he’s not going to pass funding unless there are cuts to the National Weather Service and FEMA. He said no such thing! And just like yesterday, people are going to run off Sharing and re-tweeting saying what a bastard Ryan is (although, in general, I agree). You have no business making people believe things that aren’t true, and it makes our side look like Fox when they twist our words and intentions.
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Reynardine
May 25th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Uh… no… look again. It was Eric Cantor.
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Gaelic Gal
May 25th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
I just realized that while complaining to someone about it, and came back to edit it :) Yesterday someone was saying Ryan was going to block funding so I had Ryan on the brain. (Eww, I hope there’s a cure.)
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Eykis
May 25th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Gal,
Faux Noise spends 365/24-7 doing EXACTLY what your WRONGLY accused this website of doing.
Get help for your mental issues.
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Gaelic Gal
May 25th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
I’m not saying that this site does it 24/7. But it’s happening more and more on sites like this in general, which indicates to me that either people are getting sloppier & sloppier, or they’re trying to get more readers by telling them things they want to hear. (Or I’ve only begun noticing it recently.)
I would appreciate it very much if you’d point out my error (besides saying Ryan instead of Cantor…sometimes I get GOP assholes confused with one another). And “mental issues”? Seriously? For disagreeing with me without backing it up?
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Reynardine
May 25th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
For my part, I am not addressing your mental issues. Ryan didn’t say that, but several independent sources reported Cantor did. It’s 95°Farenheit and I’m engaged in dirty work, so I can’t retrace them for you, but I think you’ll have no trouble searching them.
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Jason Easley
May 25th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
There is nothing sloppy about this. The Ryan budget proposes cutting FEMA and NOAA. After the tornadoes instead of dropping their demands for cuts to these agencies, Cantor doubled down and asked for more cuts.
Why is this so “sloppy” or hard to follow?
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Gaelic Gal
May 25th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Cantor was not quoted in this article as asking for cuts to FEMA and NOAA after the tornadoes. If someone’s going to accuse someone of doing something, why not provide supporting evidence? When you share this article on Facebook, it says
After Killer Tornadoes Republicans Want To Cut FEMA and NOAA
www.politicususa.com
The deadly tornadoes in Missouri and Oklahoma have not changed the GOP position. If Republicans had their way, NOAA, FEMA,would be eliminated.
I haven’t heard anything like that since MO and OK (which, obviously, doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened). They aren’t under any obligation to embarrass themselves and come out and say that they’re not changing anything, but for all we know they’re going to change it behind closed doors. Nothing’s been cast in stone yet.
I just found out Ron Paul, on the other hand, said it after Alabama, and that astounds me to no end.
Cantor’s words are “If there is support for…it would be accompanied by support for pay-fors….” It doesn’t say, “We’re going to block recovery unless FEMA is cut.” For one thing, I don’t understand why it’s objectionable to TRY to come up with some way we can pay for this without being more in debt, and 2) … oops I got distracted by something shiny (Shiva’s reply below). Let me address that so I don’t end up repeating myself. myself. myself.
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TimFromLA
May 25th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
If Republicans had their way, NOAA, FEMA,would be eliminated.
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
As would senior citizens, the ill, the poor, children and anyone in need. Even the chronically ill are vulnerable to the GOP axe machine.
They are not people people.
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Sarah Jones
May 25th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Gaelic,
I’m concerned about something. You claim that you are worried about accuracy, so after your initial concern was addressed, you say you are worried about what “sites like this in general” are doing (apparently being inaccurate in your opinion). In that statement, you dodge the fact that you were wrong about your doubts, and yet try to impugn both the author and the site based on what OTHER sites are doing in your mind.
Pause.
What was that that you were saying about accuracy and fairness again?
I’m sure you will want to be as fair to the truth and to the author as you want him to be to Eric Cantor.
Your other argument, after being proven wrong, is that since the GOP hasn’t come out to say they will STILL as of this moment want this, no one is allowed to say they do.
That’s a rather large strawman and if everyone agreed with that assessment, no one could write any stories without being wrong. Until they come out with a statement to the contrary, which they had plenty of time to do, they are still gunning for these cuts.
This fact isn’t RMuse’s fault, nor our site’s fault, and I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t try to slander our site with the faults you seem to find in general in “other sites like this”.
By the way, just what did you mean by that? Because it sort of reads like “other liberal sites” and you notice that most people here don’t refer to the GOP as “assholes” like you did, though they sure must be thinking it:-) You don’t need to prove your “liberal cred” here. Anyone is allowed to comment.
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Shiva
May 25th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
I will say this Gaelic Gal.
Eric Cantor did say that spending cuts must be made before we give any federal money to Joplin, Missouri. Theres nothing wrong with wanting the country not to go deeper in debt, but number one you don’t do it on the backs of people who just went through severe problems, and you don’t do it on the backs of the unemployed and the elderly. And you don’t do it by refusing revenues and writing bills that prevent you from bringing in revenues that would help you pay off the deficit. Right now we have a gentleman in the GOP who will not vote for any deficit Bill unless the Department of Energy and the Department of Education are abolished before the vote. the GOP is attempting to hold people hostage while they do everything they can to throw the burden on the backs of the poor.
You might wish, in my opinion of course, to worry less about what Eric Cantor or Paul Ryan did or didn’t say, and worry about what they are doing. And that’s trying to take everything away from you that they can. And if you are a woman like I’m assuming that you are they want to own your uterus. They want to control everything you do with it. Does that make you want to support and defend them?
I strongly suggest that you read other sites like the Huffington Post and others to find out exactly what these people are doing because if you knew you would not worry about what Paul Ryan says or didn’t say
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Rmuse
May 25th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Gaelic Gal,
Please accept my heartfelt apology for writing an article that caused you such distress. You are absolutely correct, I have no business making people believe things that are not true and I am deeply sorry for attempting to do that. I am certain I will be severely punished for making people believe lies. I deserve nothing less than censure and a righteous stoning as per the Taliban. I will accept whatever judgment you feel is apropos.
Here is the link to the Washington Times article where House majority leader, Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA)made his statement: bit.ly/mH4sKL And this is one of many articles that also reiterated Cantor’s statement. bit.ly/kV3CQy
If you Google: Cantor tornado spending, you will discover myriad articles reporting his statement. I hope seeing that I did not lie makes you feel happy again because it pains me to cause you distress. It is not why I wrote the article. If you look at proposed Republican spending cuts, NOAA, FEMA, National Weather Service are slated for major cuts.
I understand how you could confuse Eric Cantor with Paul Ryan because a jerk is a jerk. But the implication that PoliticusUSA is remotely similar to Fox News is an unacceptable affront especially in light of the fact that your contention lacks veracity.
As far as wording in the article, I apologize. I know all to well that I am a horrible writer; I have never have contended anything different and consider quitting 3-4 times a day, seven days a week. I seriously believe I really shouldn’t be writing at all and perhaps I should stop in light of causing you such distress. Regardless, how anyone can confuse Cantor with Ryan escapes my retarded, pea-brain.
I am happy though, that you read the story. I appreciate your pointing out my failure as a writer; you are not the first and won’t be the last. I know it and will hear it many times before I sit down to eat dinner. You are part of a large assembly that tells me how defective my writing is on a daily basis and frankly, I deserve it; thank you for reminding me although I didn’t expect a Democrat/Liberal to state the obvious with such malice. You can hate, be pissed off, malign me and my despicable writing, but you are off-base when you include the truly fine writers at PoliticusUSA with my defects. I am truly sorry and hope you forgive me. The Democratic cause needs your support. I’m done.
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Gaelic Gal
May 25th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Whoa nelly, it’s happening again. People put a tone into my words that I didn’t mean. Yes, this is sort of the straw on the camel’s back because this is an example of what has been bugging me for over a month. But I don’t hate you and I don’t think you’re a bad writer. I assume you’re being silly with the self-flagellation?
Thank you for providing those links…turns out they did it too. Although you can infer that what Cantor said meant that the GOP won’t pass funding without cuts, that’s not what he said.
And Shiva I hate, despise, loathe and abhor the GOP and 99.999 percent of what they do and say. But that doesn’t mean I want to blame ANYONE for something they didn’t do or say. I only scanned both of your comments because my phone’s ringing and people are tweeting me…and I have a short attention span. But I’ll come back later and make sure I’ve addressed everything. I thank everyone who has taken the time to try to understand and respond to my position.
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Jason Easley
May 25th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
You are missing the point. This isn’t about Cantor’s comments. In no part of the story did it say that Cantor wants to cut FEMA and NOAA. The Ryan budget that passed the House calls for FEMA and NOAA to be cut. Oh, and just so you know Cantor voted in favor of that budget.
I just don’t get what you are trying to say.
Here are the facts:
1). GOP passes budget that would cut NOAA and FEMA.
2). Killer tornadoes hit Midwest.
3). Instead of changing their mind about cuts, Republicans respond by calling for more cuts.
Seriously, this isn’t complicated.
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Jason, pls don’t forget that the Fed Govt already HAS a disaster budget in place. Cantor is just rattling his chains – but he is showing what a horrible nasty man he is deep inside.
I’d love to know how much Corporate Lobbying dollars that man receives in a year, and what he has promised his moneybags for his votes.
You’re right, none of what Jason said is complicated. Protecting and defending Cantor and Ryan for their moves against our most vulnerable citizens is appalling. It actually appears to say more about you than about them…that you would support moves like this by your own government.
Someday…it will be you they come after.
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Sarah Jones
May 25th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
On another note, the Blaze linked to us today. Let’s hope another tornado doesn’t hit:-(
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Well Paul Ryan is not the same as Eric Cantor. Paul Ryan resembles a grown up Eddie Munster. On the other hand, Cantor doesn’t resemble a human being.
I hope they both lose their jobs in 2010.
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
I think you’re really pretty good. You clarify your points very clearly. I do find it interesting that you feel GG’s comments were reflective of any Dem/Liberal or Progressive.
So please keep writing and commenting. Your rapier wit needs and outlet!
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Gaelic Gal
May 25th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Waaaaay too much going on in all these responses to address in 15 minutes. And I’m not a blogger or a reporter. But I’m going to come back because I want to make sure that offense isn’t taken where it wasn’t meant, and that my main point is that I can’t deride and chastise Fox and the GOP along with everyone else if Liberals are misinforming people (intentionally or otherwise) as well.
Hmm, OK that’s tied with my main point. People trust what sites say, and more and more I’m finding that sites are leading them (and me) astray. Just yesterday I went against my own rules and retweeted something from what I considered to be a reputable source without checking it…and it turned out to have been false. I don’t like it when I’m made to look the fool because I don’t need any help in that department, and, of course, it’s all about me :) My post above had nothing to do with the GOP in general, just that the conclusion my friends were drawing from this article (and its heading pasted again below) was that the GOP came out and said, after the tornadoes, that they still wanted to cut FEMA and NOAA.
After Killer Tornadoes Republicans Want To Cut FEMA and NOAA
www.politicususa.com
The deadly tornadoes in Missouri and Oklahoma have not changed the GOP position.
Later
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Shiva
May 25th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
“he deadly tornadoes in Missouri and Oklahoma have not changed the GOP position.”
Thats the whole point. They dont recognize the need for these entities even though we are experiencing disasters. NOAA is indispensable in warning people of disasters and the GOP is cutting it becuase it gathers global warming information. They dont care one whit about you or anyone that could be affected, they just dont want any global warming stuff that goes against their corporate masters.
Do try to think past the title. No one is being misinformed. You are expected to be smarter than the fonts on the page
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
But Ryan is a bastard. He doesn’t care about the deficit at all. In fact the CBO has shown that Ryan’s plan INCREASED the deficit.
We are ALL on our way to being Senior Citizens. We do not balance the GOP’s war machine on the backs of our seniors. Or our poor. Or those who have lost everything in tornados or floods or other national disaster.
I’m sorry – you are no more a Dem/Liberal than Paul Ryan. Your uncaring feelings towards your fellow humans including our must vulnerable and fragile citizens points you out as a typical nasty uncaring GOP RWNJ.
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Rmuse
May 25th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
At some point the ignorant voters need to know what their reps are doing. How many need to die and lose everything without a chance of recuperation before they recognize who is holding up recovery? It’s unbelievable. But that’s the GOP.
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Anne
May 25th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
These folks are completely soulless and heartless. It’s beyond me why anyone would ever vote for them even as dogcatchers. Their destructive policies are already having adverse effects on people in certain states.
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
They don’t like people. They love money though.
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DannyEastVillage
May 25th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
The more you learn about republicans the more you find that they’re even worse than you first suspected.
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Basheert
May 25th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
They are…you’re right.
Not one of these GOPers have a heart or a soul. Just deep pockets – and the total inability to keep it “in their pants”.
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TimFromLA
May 25th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
If I weren’t a liberal, if I weren’t a bleeding heart/socialist/commie/pinko/lefty, I would say to these states: PICK YOURSELF UP FROM YOUR BOOTSTRAPS! But I won’t. But what a great opportunity for the Democratic party to say: Oh, OK Eric Cantor, so you want your constituents to die? Well we don’t and we are willing to take funding from states like California to help rebuild these states.
You know how long before the country becomes blue? Very quickly.
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Reynardine
May 25th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
In fact, it appears Eric Cantor demanded, and got, a 1.5 bn dollar cut to a green energy program before consenting to release 1 bn in aid to Joplin. Meanwhile, owing to the very climate effects created by our ungreen energy, we are sure to have many more disasters, and now that the Dissocialists have found how easy it is to get what they want through extortion, it’ll be: Do what we want, or we’ll let more Americans die. No doubt NOAA, FEMA, PBS, and the rest of their “enemies list” will all be sacrificial victims unless they are publicly called on it RIGHT NOW, and EVERY TIME.
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Shiva
May 25th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
That was wrong.The Dems never should have did that. They should have just sat back and said hey, its your ball game, go explain yourself.
Cantor owns the cowards now
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Reynardine
May 25th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
He so far only owns the House cowards. Time to write the Senate cowards.
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cathy
May 25th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Gee, FEMA needs a supplemental for disaster relief. How could they not know how much money they were going to need? Cantor’s comments are callous and cruel–disaster relief should be a given, not a supplemental.
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Gaelic Gal
May 26th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
If you want to know why this is so late, skip to the end. I stuck all responses in one post.
COMMENTS I AT LEAST
BASICALLY AGREE WITH
Reynardine
=============
Holy shit! I’ve been almost completely out of the news cycle today and I just saw your comment about the green cuts! I mean, on the one hand, we can’t let people in Joplin suffer just to prove the point that the GOP wanted to hold back aid. But still….
Sarah
==============
- I want to be fair to anyone, including this author.
- Not sure where you’re going with this yet, but you said I argue that since the GOP hasn’t come out to say they will STILL as of this moment want this, no one is allowed to say they do. I guess that’s right, but, in my words, I don’t think anyone (particularly a reporter, blogger, or someone in the public eye that people trust to be accurate) should accuse someone of not changing their position unless they have evidence that they haven’t changed their position.
- This particular complaint apparently had nothing to do with politicsusa, so therefore I was wrong to have included it, and I sincerely apologize.
- Good question, I’m not sure what I mean by “sites like this”…perhaps I mean non mainstream media sites.
- You’re correct that I was trying to prove my liberal cred. I felt that people weren’t taking me seriously because they thought I was a troll. I usually only call the GOP as assholes when referring to something specific one or more of them has done (which wouldn’t apply in this case), but I won’t use that word again. Although, after my reception, I don’t think I’ll be coming back to the comments :)
Shiva
==================
I agree with almost everything you said in your first reply but most of it had nothing to do with my problems with this article.
I know what their position has been. I know what the NOAA does, but it never occurred to me before that the rationale behind their desired cuts was related to global warming and I thank you for introducing me to that premise. Maybe I’m too trusting, but I take Ron Paul at his word that his view is based on not thinking it’s a Federal issue, but now I don’t know what to think about the rest of them…I thought they were simply trying to take power away from the Government.
Rmuse
================
very clever reply that I’m sure would have been enjoyable under other circumstances (and in some cases still was anyway).
I agree about those cuts being slated, but feel that doesn’t relate to my complaint.
I’m grateful you understand my Cantor/Ryan confusion :) Oops, I just read on and you contradicted yourself. Oh well.
It appears that what I wrote was interpreted as meaning that I thought this site was like Fox, and for that I am very sorry, I think no such thing. I do not for one minute think that the purpose of this site is to deceive and manipulate. I’d stake my life on its good intentions. I was trying to convey that I feel very strongly that we have to be extra vigilent in reporting facts and not errors or distortions or sensationalized headlines that aren’t true so that Republicans can’t point their fingers at us and say, “See, you guys do it too!”
Basheert
====================
I also think Rmuse writes well and should continue writing (although I’m sure he was being facetious and didn’t actually have any intention of stopping).
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And now for something completely different…
DISAGREE
I just want to remind everyone that the article is titled, “After Killer Tornadoes Republicans Want To Cut FEMA and NOAA” and on Facebook the summary that is displayed is “The deadly tornadoes in Missouri and Oklahoma have not changed the GOP position. If Republicans had their way, NOAA, FEMA, would be eliminated.”
And if you finish reading your section and don’t feel like reading the rest, please skip to the end.
And I know nothing about anything related that’s happened today (skip to the end if you care why). Actually, right now, I can’t remember anything that’s happened today politically speaking.
There are likely to be many errors in this. For an explanation go to the end.
I made an attempt to go in chronological order of responses, so first up:
Reynardine
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I complained, “The way you’ve worded things, it looks like Ryan (when I meant Cantor) said he’s not going to pass funding unless there are cuts to the National Weather Service and FEMA.” You told me several independent sources said that Cantor said that. I understand being busy, but I was unable to find any actual Cantor quote saying he wasn’t going to pass funding without NOAA & FEMA cuts. Could you please back up your claim when you get a chance?
Jason
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The only way the Ryan budget plan would relate to my complaint would be if the GOP had basically come out and said something like, “BTW, tornadoes or no tornadoes, we’re not changing a thing!” That would absolutely merit the part of the article’s description reading, “The deadly tornadoes in Missouri and Oklahoma have not changed the GOP position.”
Seeing as they haven’t come out and said anything like, “Our bad…we’re willing to amend the NOAA and FEMA parts of the budget” it’s certainly possible that they haven’t changed their position. But I’m not a mindreader (not on Thursdays anyway) and for all I know that ambiguous statement Cantor made is an indication that there’s an internal struggle in the party because some found their hearts, and/or some realized they’d have zero chance of being re-elected if they stood their ground. Whereas there are others who think backing down will make them look weak and/or, like Ron Paul, believe that charity shouldn’t be a Federal matter (not sure if I’m paraphrasing him correctly). And I have no idea what goes on inside their minds. I just know that I haven’t heard them say that they haven’t changed their minds or their plan.
How is it that you think Cantor asked for more cuts?
“IF there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by SUPPORT FOR having pay-fors to that supplemental.”
In other words, should the majority of them (and/or leadership I guess) decide that they want to support a bill for funding, there would be support for pay-fors. He didn’t “demand” or “insist” or even “ask for” cuts, merely mentioned that there WOULD BE SUPPORT for them. Support, as in approve or encourage. As in there would be people wanting to make cuts to pay for it. It’s not even clear if he’s saying that HE would support pay-fors. Under normal circumstances, I’d bet my bottom dollar on it, but these aren’t normal circumstances. Does he or his wife have friends or relatives in the affected area? That could make all the difference in the world.
Sarah
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I don’t understand why you say I was apparently innacurate in my assumptions. What assumptions? What do you think was wrong?
My comment about other sites was to explain that I’m not targeting this site specifically, others do it too; this just happened to be the article I was reading when I got so fed up I decided I was going to address it. (I decided to practice what I preach for a change since I tell people, “If you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem.”) Just today, a site said that some politician who drives me nuts (I think Santorum) said that people who disagree with him are going to hell. That’s not what he said. What he said may actually have been a little freakier, but it wasn’t what they claimed. I can’t tell you exactly without looking it up, but if I remember correctly, what he basically said was that if hateful people disagreed with him and were right, that was one thing. If hateful people disagreed with him and they were wrong, but they repented, then they’d join him in heaven. But hateful people who were wrong were going to be damned, so he feels sorry for them.
Here are some reasons the author may have claimed otherwise (Note: these are not intended to be factual snide remarks):
- English is not his native language
- He went to school in Florida
- He simply doesn’t know how to parse a sentence
- He just scanned the interview quickly and that was the impression he was left with
- He was going for a dramatic headline
- He couldn’t find a concise way to say what Santorum said
- He can’t stand the guy and wants to supply others who can’t stand the guy with some ammo, or get it going all over the Internet.
I have no idea which, if any, was the rationale behind his decision. But it’s getting to the point where I notice things like this every day or so.
As to accuracy and fairness, I’m confused. And then you say I was proven wrong, and I don’t understand where you think I was proven wrong.
Sure people can write things and be wrong, people make mistakes all the time. I just feel they shouldn’t state them as fact if they don’t have anything to back it up. If instead of “After Killer Tornadoes Republicans Want To Cut FEMA and NOAA” he had said something like, “After Killer Tornadoes Republicans Have Not Backed Down From Their Intentions to Cut FEMA and NOA” well that’s certainly a true statement (to the best of my knowledge).
Your assertion that I’m blaming your site because of errors I’ve found on other sites is incorrect. This site is one of the ones I no longer automatically pass on to others because of the errors I’ve later discovered, sometimes by being embarrassed when someone calls me on distributing misinformation. I will still re-tweet this site and some of those others if
1) the story looks important and the tweets are flying by and I don’t want anyone to miss it;
2) I’m grateful that the story was brought to my attention since I missed it from the source, and want to give credit where credit is due;
3) the article offers what I feel to be valuable insight to the topic; and/or
4) the article summarizes at least the part of the source article that I find most compelling, so that people on the go can get the gist of it.
I somehow ended up with a political FB page, and since I’ve been burned so many times, I try not to post things there from non “mainstream media” sites without verifying them. Or if I do, I try to remember to say something like, I haven’t verified this, but if it’s true….
Shiva
==================
As I’ve explained above, I’ve seen no evidence that Cantor, or anyone else, has said that spending cuts must be made if they’re going to support funding. And if he had, it would still have nothing to do with my complaint that the title asserts that they haven’t changed their position and still want to cut NOAA and FEMA after the tornados.
I worry about what every politician says and does, including worrying whether or not we’re being given correct information about what they’re all saying and doing.
I support and defend the truth, no matter who it benefits.
It’s not humanly possible for me to expose myself to any more than the 50ish sources I see each day. A political Facebook page I created just so I would be able to stop arguing with my relatives (who are almost all Irish-Catholic Protestants), high school friends, etc., instead of being liked by the 6 people I know who share my beliefs, now somehow has 171 followers. I scan everything I can whenver I can. (My health restrictions are explained more below.) I feel an extra responsibility to provide them with accurate and current information because they keep thanking me, and I want to deserve their gratitude.
I can’t see any way you have of knowing that the GOP hasn’t changed their mind…unless you can read minds.
I DID read the entire article (as best I can, see below) to try to find support for the heading. I couldn’t find it. I’ve been trying to make sure that people know my remarks are civil, but your last one got me. I was born a genius (see below for the disclaimer) but if you can’t understand that the headline and description are inaccurate, then I’m beginning to doubt YOUR font size. And I’m sad because I had a guess as to who you were and I hope I was wrong.
In terms of this new green cut development, my first instinct was to agree with you, but in retrospect I don’t think the people in Joplin should suffer another minute, especially just to prove a point. I just hope the media takes advantage of this to…hmm, never mind. Conservatives hate green and want to pay for expenditures so I don’t think there’ll be any convincing them. It’s worth a shot though to spread the news far and wide. Even if Fox brings up our coverage to ridicule it, wouldn’t you think it’d be clear to ONE of them that the GOP was going to hold up aid? Oh, but I forgot, Conservatives don’t think people deserve aid. I wish it were under different circumstances, but at least the victims are probably going to turn. Unless Fox finds some way to spin it. Sigh.
Rmuse
====================
As I said before, the links you provided me showed that they were saying the same things you were. So I could be wrong, but it seems that you’ve fallen into the same trap I have…trusting a source without verifying it.
I disagree that you’re a terrible writer.
As for your contradiction about understanding my Ryan/Cantor error, I explained above that I had Ryan on the brain because of what someone had incorrectly claimed about him the day before. Personally, I think that’s enough of a reason, but if you want more skip to the end.
I didn’t intended any malice towards you whatsoever, and apologize if that’s how my words were interpreted. I was annoyed with you. I am less annoyed with you now that I know everyone else was saying it too, but I don’t think that makes it right. My anger is at the ever increasing disinformation I see on our side, and the fear that some of it is intentional. Darn it, which just reminded me that I actually DO suspect some of that with the “mainstream” because, although they’ve often been there in the past, it seems I’ve recently seen so many disparities with what Al Jazeera and the BBC report and what United States media outlets report that I’m more disillusioned with them as well. Sigh.
Basheert
====================
I’m not specifically defending any Republican as an individual or the GOP as a party. I always defend the truth, and don’t discriminate.
Frankly, I think it says more about YOU that you think it’s OK to allow untruths to be put out there about people because you disagree with them. (Well, and because so many of them are nasty.)
I don’t understand your subsequent comment. Do you think Democrats/Liberals and Progressives aren’t allowed to have differing views and opinions?
You are completely wrong about me. I care very much about people, especially those who have a hard time helping themselves. I am disabled.
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DISCLAIMER
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It’s taken me so long to respond because I’m epileptic, spend a better part of a day cat-napping and/or having seizures (not the nasty ones, so sometimes I can’t tell the difference), and can’t effectively read an article because, as I tell people, things go in one eye and out the other. That’s why Facebook was so perfect for me, because I can scan articles then post things when I hit on something good, sometimes without reading the rest. The seizures (and/or the traumatic brain injury I suffered causing me to be prounced dead-at-the-scene at a car accident in ’84) cause short-term memory loss and inability to focus (and sometimes comprehend), and the anti-seizure medicine makes me type homonyms (homonyms homonyms homonyms, see?), leave out words, type completely irrelevant words, and I think there’s more but I’ve forgotten. You can’t begin to imagine how difficult this was for me, paging back to re-read something only to forget what I was looking for.
So I hope I was able to clarify my position. I tried my best.
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Mary Hayes
May 29th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
This was an excellent piece — too bad the comments got derailed by personality issues.
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